Notification and haptic feedback for wearable devices in extended reality

Défense de mémoire d'Antoine Hallet

Extended Reality (XR) relies increasingly on haptics, yet the terms “haptic feedback” and “haptic notification” are used inconsistently or interchangeably in the literature, which hinders 
comparison across studies and device types. This thesis tackles that gap by offering clear definitions and a simple framework that distinguishes haptic notification from haptic feedback. 

Using a PRISMA-based screening across ACM, IEEE and Google Scholar, 44 peer-reviewed articles were ultimately read and analysed revealing that “haptic notification” is rarely defined 
and, in XR specifically, is typically used as a synonym for haptic feedback. The main outcome of this master’s thesis is a concise conceptual distinction: notification = machine-to-human 
information without a user trigger; feedback = tactile response contingent on user action. This distinction, coupled with the proposed framework, aims to improve cross-study comparability. 
To operationalise the model, a VR prototype and a simulation were built: a four-level, threedoor labyrinth in Unity for Meta Quest 2, with four experimental conditions separating systemtriggered notification from user-triggered feedback. The wearable device uses five ERM coin vibration motors (3–5 V, ~10 mm) that vibrate according to a specific pattern for each door choice. The results show that the theoretical model with the distinction between haptic 
notification and feedback works and can be transposed into reality thanks to the prototype.

Keywords: Haptic notification, haptic feedback

Contact : Isabelle Daelman - isabelle.daelman@unamur.be
Télecharger : vCal